Monday, October 6, 2014

The Verse That Keeps Me Going

Photo by Phaitoon

I was in high school when I was first exposed to the
idea. Some pastors and Christian leaders shared their “life verses,” and it
occurred to me that I didn’t have one. I mean, I’d never thought about it,
never chosen one Bible verse over another, and I really hadn’t ever looked for
a theme for my life—or whatever a life verse was supposed to be.

I can’t remember how long it took for me to find it, but
when I got to know this verse, I claimed it as my own.

Let me give you some background. When I was a teen, I had
lots of friends and a fun church youth group. Inside, I was insecure and
fearful. I’m sure my parents must have had reservations when I left for
college.

Here’s my life verse. It’s still the one I fall back on
when things aren’t easy or clear. When I’m called upon to do something that
isn’t in my comfort zone, when I am physically sick or hurting, this is the
verse I go to for the task at hand:

Faithful
is he that calleth you,

who
also will do it(1 Thessalonians 5:24).

This verse starts with God’s faithfulness.What a concept! No matter what happens, God is always
faithful. It is of the LORD’S mercies
that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every
morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Then, it speaks of
God’s call on one’s life. What is this call? It might speak of His call for
salvation: No
man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). Or it might speak of a life calling, a
purpose, or a job. No matter the Christian, he has been called to glorify God
in everything he does: For ye are bought
with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20).

For me, my life
calling came when I was seventeen.My answer—after two weeks of grappling
with God—was the same as Isaiah’s prayer, Here
am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8b). As you know, I am serving the Lord overseas in
Spain. He sent.

Back to my life
verse: Faithful is he that calleth you.
I’ve proved that over and over! From my teen years to my grandma years, God is
always faithful. He called me, sent me, and He is always faithful.

Who also will do it. The emphasis of this verse is on God. He is faithful, He calls, He does it. He
doesn’t really need us—as if God could need anything. He chooses to empower us!
Talk about grace . . . . I love this passage which speaks of God’s choosing and
why: For ye see
your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of
the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1
Corinthians 1:26-31).

So, as one of
those foolish things, I rejoice in God’s calling, in God’s enabling, and in
God’s power in my life.

2 comments:

I don't think I heard about life verses maybe until college or shortly after. I never felt compelled to choose one - God had spoken to me so often through so many verses. But one that has come up frequently is Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Hi and welcome to In the Way! I explore many subjects, striving always to present them from a biblical viewpoint. Feel free to browse the tabs at the top for general categories. If you don't see what you're looking for, use the search button below. I'm a pastor's wife, mother of two, grandma, teacher, author, and blogger. I live in a quaint little village in the beautiful Basque region of northern Spain.

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Lou Ann is a young-thinking grandma with an infectious laugh. She rejoices in nature and other beautiful things--including people! She's an avid writer and practices several other artistic expressions, like singing when no one's listening, calligraphy, photography, and even "serious art." Lou Ann loves her Lord Jesus Christ, family, and her church.